Chapter 863: Answer (16)

It was an obvious truth—but not everyone in the world likes me.

The entertainment industry was no different.

Even if they didn’t say it out loud, there were definitely people who disliked us or looked at us unfavorably.

And likewise, there were people we didn’t like either.

But that was one thing, and professional life was another.

Even if you disliked someone, the basic courtesy was to smile and maintain the atmosphere.

“...What?”

I smiled and asked Bang Yochan again.

“I think I misheard you. What did you say?”

“I said I already know I’m good at rapping. I didn’t ask for your evaluation.”

His face clearly said: Who are you to judge me?

He looked thoroughly twisted with irritation.

Honestly, the hip-hop artists who used to diss us had worn the same expression.

Didn’t like us topping the charts, didn’t like us rapping... this and that.

I simply smiled at him and turned away.

“Alright! Let me greet you again! I’m Wooju, your special judge today, here to cheer you on! Nice to meet you!”

In situations like this, clean disregard worked best.

“Waaaaaah!”

The other contestants, who had been awkwardly caught in the atmosphere, exaggerated their reactions.

Every time I handed out the cookies Biju had baked, exaggerated gratitude followed.

“Wow, thank you so much.”

“Wait... Biju made these?”

“That’s crazy... so you watched the show, then?”

Thankfully, as I kept smiling, they gradually relaxed.

While I chatted with them, one person stood apart, frowning.

That was when I pointed it out.

“You see that camera over there, right? This is content for MyTube.”

“Ah...”

Bang Yochan glanced at the camera, startled.

But that was it.

No further reaction.

I watched that carefully as I handed him a cookie.

“Have one if you’re hungry.”

“...Sure.”

Once he knew there was a camera, he softened slightly.

I encouraged the others, took photos, and even collected emails.

“Please write your email addresses. We’ll send you the photos later.”

“Wow, thank you!”

After exchanging bows, I glanced again at the one still looking displeased.

Then I turned to Manager Minsu.

“Min—”

I stopped mid-name and laughed.

He looked like an enraged minotaur, snorting as if ready to charge with an axe.

“Are you angry?”

“I almost lost my temper. Biju worked hard baking those cookies and that guy...”

Minsu clenched his fist.

“If he were my younger brother, I’d have smacked him already.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“...Hoo.”

“Actually, can you do me a favor?”

“Yes.”

“I’m curious about something. Find out what kind of relationship that contestant Bang Yochan has with K-Net.”

“...Understood.”

After he left, I moved to wait for the second cypher team.

Soon, they entered.

And among them—

“Se-senior!”

A familiar face ran toward me at full speed.

Curly hair bouncing, breathless.

“I’m Hongju! Kye Hongju!”

“I know.”

“I met you at The Spirit before—”

He fired off words like a machine gun, desperate to be remembered.

I laughed.

“I remember you, Hongju.”

“...!”

Light seemed to shine across his face.

“You remember me...!”

“How have you been?”

“It’s my first time on TV, so it’s exciting... a bit tough, but fun.”

Then he whispered,

“But the food’s bad and there’s no internet...”

“You’ve been in training camp for about two weeks, right?”

“Yes...”

As he chatted, I met his teammates and introduced myself.

“I’m a shareholder of the company that owns your team leader Hongju.”

Laughter erupted.

“Feel free to eat the cookies now.”

“Thank you!”

They devoured them like they desperately needed sugar.

When I mentioned I’d also brought iced Americanos, their eyes sparkled.

Then I passed along a message from Hanjo.

“...!”

Hongju’s eyes instantly filled with tears.

Even I found myself smiling repeatedly.

He had a great image on the show.

Cute, pure, yet surprisingly skilled.

In a betrayal-filled survival show, he stood out.

While the cameraman chuckled at his emotional reaction—

“Wooju.”

Minsu returned, along with Wonseok.

“Did you find out?”

“Yeah.”

Wonseok nodded.

“He’s the son of someone connected to the CP.”

“I thought so.”

“When you told him about the camera, he didn’t panic. That’s not normal.”

A typical contestant would have panicked immediately.

But he hadn’t.

He assumed it would be edited out.

“Apparently he’s known for rude behavior, but it all gets cut. Even the staff don’t like him, but his backing is strong.”

“Should we do something about it?”

“No.”

I waved it off.

“It’s not worth the energy.”

He was just a trainee.

Not even debuted.

Why bother?

That was what I thought—

“...?”

Then I saw him again.

Bang Yochan.

Watching me with a twisted expression.

And then—

He stood up.

Walked over.

And deliberately threw Biju’s handmade cookie into the trash.

Then looked at me like—

So what?

“Wooju? What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

A smile formed on my lips.

“My mind just changed a bit.”

Bang Yochan dusted off his hands.

His teammate gasped.

“Hyung, what are you doing? Are you crazy?”

“I wasn’t hungry.”

“Then give it to someone! Why throw food away?”

“Why are you nagging?”

He glanced toward me.

But I showed no reaction.

Just continued talking.

That irritated him.

‘Ignoring me completely.’

He bit his lip.

‘I hate him.’

From the moment I appeared, he had been annoyed.

What did an idol know about hip-hop?

To him, I was just a celebrity who got by on looks.

The kind he hated since school.

He looked at the others crowding around me.

‘No pride at all.’

He sneered.

“Like that’ll get you a song.”

Another teammate spoke carefully.

“Hyung, why cause trouble? We’ll be the ones who suffer.”

“He’s just a special judge. Doesn’t affect scoring.”

But everyone else felt uneasy.

They knew who I was.

Major shareholder of Lemon Entertainment.

Connections across top groups.

National-level influence.

Even one of those titles was enough to make me untouchable.

Yet—

He was relying on my “good image.”

Assuming I wouldn’t act.

A dangerous assumption.

“Hello everyone! I’m Wooju, your special judge today!”

I greeted the final team.

Among them—

A boy with shining eyes.

“Senior.”

Kim Jihyuk.

A high schooler with unexpected maturity.

Popular. Skilled. A rival to Bang Yochan.

“I’m a huge fan.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m not a fake fan. I’m a real Souffle.”

His eyes sparkled.

“I own every NewBlack album.”

“Really?”

“I carry them with me just in case I meet you.”

I laughed.

Then tested him.

“0619.”

“0718. 1109. 0926.”

“...What’s 0926?”

“Your solar and lunar birthdays.”

“...You really are my fan.”

I hugged him.

Totally biased already.

Then the judges entered.

“Hello!”

Cash Cow, Machine Gun, Rito.

“Are you nervous?” Rito asked.

“Very.”

“Good. You’re about to see something incredible.”

The contestants murmured.

“Is NewBlack performing?”

Then—

The stage darkened.

“Waaaaaah!”

I stepped onto the stage in a simple black hoodie.

“Are you ready?”

“Yes!”

“Then come out.”

The door opened.

And—

Cold Brown stepped out.

“COLDDY!”

The crowd erupted.

“Wait...”

“...Cold Brown?”

“...What?”

The contestants froze.

Their brains lagging behind reality.

“Next Mission! Make some noise—!”

Cold shouted.

The room exploded.

He stood beside me, smiling.

I winked at the contestants.

So?

Still think I shouldn’t be a judge?

“WAAAAAAAH!”

They all shot to their feet—

And gave a standing ovation.